FarRide to Goolgowi NSW Australia

[HACKLE]

From previous posts some of you will probably know that I'm a member of the FarRiders, an Australian long distance riding group. Well yesterday the 2020 FarRiding season started with the first one to Goolgowi in central New South Wales.
  I received my start docket from the local Trafalgar ATM at 02.56 am. then headed to Berwick about 100 kilometres towards Melbourne to meet another FarRider, Michael. Our plan was to bypass the suburbs of Melbourne to the east, before settling into a run up the Hume Highway before turning onto the Goulburn Valley Highway.
   Light misty rain [nuisance rain] fell on me on my ride down to Berwick, maybe a sign of worse weather to follow. After 80 kilometres on the Goulburn Hwy. we made a detour to the east of Shepparton before a more direct route to Yarroweyah, for fuel and breakfast.
   Crossing the Murray River into NSW and north up the Newell Hwy. through Finley, Jerilderie, then left onto the Kidman Way and Griffith, home to a major wine producing area.
   From Griffith it was only 50 kilometres to Goolgowi and the Ex-Services Club, our FarRide venue. Many parts of the eastern area of Australia have been hit with terrible bush fires creating extreme loss of homes, stock and great areas of forest. Though the central part of NSW hasn't endured these fires, they have suffered through lack of rain, creating a loss of farming/production wealth. 
   This small, volunteer based club welcomed us with open arms. The money put over the bar [drinks and meals] from the 50 attendees to us seemed small, to the club it was a large infusion of desperately needed funds.
    I spent some time talking to one of the gents cooking the steaks and sausages regarding FarRide principles. He was amazed that we had come from as far away as Queensland and South Australia, with the majority from NSW and Victoria. I also mentioned that it might take a few years before we ever return to past destinations. He commented that the welcome mat was always out for us. 
    Our [Michael and myself] return ride took us west to Hay before south through Deniliquin and Echuca to recross the Murray River back into Victoria. With Echuca and Elmore behind us we stopped in Heathcote for fuel and a break before continuing south to Melbourne and home.
     I arrived home after filling the tank at about 08.45 pm. My total kilometres for the day was a relaxing 1261 kilometres. By the way, that misty rain that started the day turned into 33 degrees centigrade for the rest of the day, warm, but bearable.
     Another good start to my longer rides for 2020. Can't wait for the next one. Cheers.

[digital]

You look excited!

Thank you for sharing that chronicle. 

I feel those brutal fires. 


regards

[Tenequip]

Sounds like a great ride, but too far and hot for me. Had to change your kilometers to miles to realize how far you had traveled, wow. My longest is about 650 miles, far short of your 783 miles. My 650 miles was from North Carolina to my home in Pennsylvania and took about ten hours. But, I would love see Australia the way you are on the Trophy.
I assume your are mainly on highways.

[HACKLE]

Tenequip yes that's correct. The only part of the ride that was posted at 110 kilometres/per hour was on the Hume Freeway, from Donnybrook then onto the Goulburn Valley Highway to just south of Shepparton. The next stretch of 110 was the Newell Hwy. and then onto the Kidman Way. All the rest was posted at 100 kph. In the 100 sections I sit on 103 true speed, [off the GPS] on the cruise, while it's 113 [the same] in the 110 sections. I have never had to explain my speed to the authorities whilst at these speeds. And we do have some very officious highway patrol officers here in Victoria. Not so in New South Wales. I just don't give them the opportunity to stop me for a talk. Doesn't mean I don't like a chat, just not to these sorts of people. Cheers.

[Saddle Tramp]

Given the vast open spaces in Australia, I am surprised that your speed limits are so low. You should take a Trip to The Western United States, with our common 75 mph (121 kph) speed limits. Plus those enforcing the law are unlikely to give you a second look at 5 mph over the limit. Easy to accumulate mileage at those speeds! 

[HACKLE]

Saddle Tramp I can only dream about such limits, or should I say, lack of. An example of our over enforcement of speeds limits is the Hume Freeway, when it was originally designed it was for a limit of 130 kph. Our over zealous police departments said that was way too fast for our drivers, so the limit was set at 110 kph.
  Yet in Northern Territory we originally had no limit on the Stuart Highway [main North/South arterial]. Now the authorities have set it at [in some parts] 130 kph. It was interesting when it had no limit there was a significantly lower collision rate than now with the 130 limit. Something to do with awareness requirements at higher speeds. Plus the Northern Territory has a very small bitumen highway network compared to the rest of Australia.
  A few years ago [no limit ] one of our FarRider/IBA members completed an SS3000 kilometre ride in just under 24 hours. Impossible to achieve that now. He was riding a Triumph Rocket 3 with an enlarged [50 litres] fuel tank. The same man has finished more than one IBA Rally. You could say an experienced rider. Cheers. 

[digital]

Indeed HACKLE, motorways with no speed limit, such as in Germany. Few accidents! In retentions are very respectful and give way to motorcycles.

In Spain, pass as you can ...

[HACKLE]

Digital, in other words, take your life into your own hands. On another matter I always enjoy looking at the various modifications that you, and your friends, are adding to your bikes. Cheers.